S03E96: NEOWISE's Grand Finale & Artemis IV's Engine Upgrades

Welcome to Astronomy Daily, the podcast that brings you the latest and most exciting

updates from the world of space exploration and astronomy. I'm your host, Anna.

Today we'll be covering several intriguing headlines, including the end of a NASA

mission, upgrades to the Artemis four engines, new discoveries by the James Webb

Space Telescope, Europe's Ariani six launch, and new objects beyond the Kuiper Belt

discovered by the Subaru telescope. So sit tight as we dive into these fascinating

developments that are pushing the boundaries of our understanding of the Cosmos. NASA's NEOWISE

mission is coming to an end after an impressive fourteen year run that has significantly

advanced our understanding of near Earth objects. Launched initially as the WISE or Wide

Field Infrared Survey Explorer in two thousand and nine, the mission quickly exceeded its

scientific objectives by scanning the entire infrared sky. This mission took a pivotal turn

in twenty thirteen, becoming NEOWISE Near Earth Object Wide Field Infrared Survey Explorer and

shifting its focus to asteroid hunting. After developing new techniques to find and characterize

near Earth objects or NEOs hidden in vast quantities of its infrared survey data.

Neowise made one point four to five million infrared measurements of over forty four thousand

objects in our solar system. In total, it has surveyed more than three

thousand NEOs, discovering two hundred and fifteen of them itself. The spacecraft has

provided a huge data reservoir that the scientific community will sift through and learn from

for decades. What's particularly exciting about NEOWISE's accomplishments is setting the stage for its

successor, the NEEO Surveyor, the first purpose built infrared space telescope specifically dedicated

to hunting hazardous near Earth objects, scheduled to launch in late twenty twenty seven.

A NEEO Surveyor aims to find the most difficult to detect asteroids and comets

that could pose significant threats to Earth. This makes it a critical component of

NASA's planetary defense strategy. Interestingly, the approaching Solar maximum, the period of

highest solar activity during the Sun's eleven year cycle, has hastened the end of

the Neowise mission. Increased solar activity heats Earth's atmosphere, causing it to expand

and create more drag on satellites. Since Neowise lacks a propulsion system, it

can't maintain its orbit under these conditions. Following its last survey on July thirty

first, the spacecraft will enter hibernation mode on August eighth, before gradually falling

back to Earth to eventually burn up in the atmosphere. NASA officials have praised

Neowise for surpassing all expectations. Joseph Hunt, NEOISED project manager at NASA's Jet

Propulsion Laboratory, lauded the mission for providing vast amounts of data that the science

community will use for decades to come. Amy Mainzer, the principal investigator of

Neoy's and neosurvey, emphasize that NEOWYS has been crucial in developing the next generation

infrared space telescope. It's amazing to think how far we've come since the mission's

inception, and even more exciting to ponder what lies ahead for planetary defense efforts.

With Neowys paving the way and the NEO Surveyor gearing up, it's clear

that NASA is committed to continuously improving our planetary defense capabilities. The Artemis four

mission will soon launch, and it's bringing some significant upgrades along for the ride.

One of the standouts the modernized RS twenty five engines. These engines,

originally from the Space Shuttle era, have seen some impressive updates to prepare them

for the Artemis missions. This mission, in particular, will be the last

to use these updated engines before NASA switches to newly manufactured RS twenty five engines

starting with Artemis five. So what makes these upgraded RS twenty five engines special

VERER one They now include modern flight computers capable of handling higher temperatures. This

is crucial because these engines will be in close proximity to the SLS solid rocket

motors, which generate intense heat. The upgraded engines have undergone comprehensive tests ensuring

that they can meet the rigorous demands of the Artemis four mission. In addition

to the high tech upgrades, the mission will also feature the debut of the

Advanced Block one B configuration of the Space Launch System. This configuration includes an

exploration upper stage powered by four aerojet rocket dine RL ten engines, a step

up from the interim cryogenic propulsion stage used in earlier Artemis missions, which was

new universal stage adapter above the exploration upper stage increases the volume for payloads by

twenty four percent compared to industry standard five meter class payload fairings. What does

this mean in practical terms? While the upgraded SLS Block one B rocket can

now deliver thirty eight metric tons of payload to cislunar space in a single mission

compared to just twenty seven metric tons with the Block one configuration. For cargo

only missions, the payload capacity increases to a whopping forty two metric tons.

All of these advancements make the Artemis four mission a significant milestone. It not

only marks the end of an era with the last use of the updated Space

Shuttle engines, but also heralds a new age of space exploration capability. With

more powerful and efficient engines, higher payload capacities, and cutting edge technology,

the Artemis missions are paving the way for even more ambitious space endeavors. Stay

tuned because the launch of Artemis four is set to be a game changer in

NASA's journey to explore the Moon, Mars, and beyond, the James Webb

Space Telescope has made a groundbreaking discovery that has the scientific community buzzing with excitement.

The telescope has spotted a put tent henchially habitable exoplanet named LHS eleven forty

B, located forty eight light years away in the constellation Cetus. What makes

LHS eleven forty b especially intriguing is the possibility that it harbors a temperate water

ocean potentially half the size of the Atlantic. Water is a fundamental ingredient for

life as we know it, making this discovery particularly significant. Until now,

detecting liquid water on distant worlds has been a key milestone scientists have aimed for

in the search for extraterrestrial habitability. LHS eleven forty B could soon be the

first exoplanet where we indirectly confirm the presence of liquid water on its surface,

according to Charles Cadieux, the lead author of the study that announced the discovery.

Revolving around a red dwarf star that's about a fifth the size of our

Sun, LHS eleven forty B sits comfortably in what scientists call the habitable zone,

where conditions are just right for liquid water to exist. This zone is

often referred to as the Goldilock zone, neither too hot nor too cold,

but just right for life as we know it. Adding to the excitement,

Ryan McDonald, a NASA Sagan fellow, suggests that initial observations with the JWST

have even hinted at an atmosphere on LHS eleven forty B. This is a

monumental step forward because it could indicate that the planet has retained a substantial atmosphere

rich in nitrogen, much like Earth's. If true, it means LHS eleven

forty B might offer conditions suitable for supporting liquid water and, by extension,

life. This discovery is not entirely out of the blue. LHS eleven forty

B has been a subject of interest among planetary scientists for some time. Previous

telescopes like Hubble and Spitzer have gathered substantial data on this exoplanet, but they

lacked the advanced capabilities of the JWST. What sets the James webspased telescope apart

is its power to disentangle complex data, separating planetary signals from those of the

star at orbits. Thanks to jwas T's keen eye, previous ambiguities about LHS

eleven forty B being a mini neptune, a type of planet unsuited for liquid

water, have been laid to rest. The possibility that LHS eleven forty B

is actually a super Earth with massive water content. Is incredibly exciting. To

illustrate how unique LHS eleven forty B is, let's consider its rotation. Similar

to how the same side of the Moon always faces Earth, LHS eleven forty

B may also have one side perpetually facing its star, creating stable conditions that

could support a liquid ocean on that side. This bullseye ocean scenario, where

one hemisphere contains a vast temperate water body, offers a fascinating picture of what

life could potentially look like on such an exotic world. While there's still much

to learn about LHS eleven forty B, this early discovery offers a promising lead

in the quest to find habitable worlds beyond our own. As we continue to

study this remarkable exoplanet, who knows what other cosmic revelations await to us in

the universe. Stay with us as we move on to our next topic.

But remember this is just the beginning for the James Webb Space Telescope and its

mission to reshape our understanding of the COSMOS. Europe's space aspirations are taking a

giant leap forward with the imminent inaugural launch of Ariani six, the newest rocket

developed by the European Space Agency. This launch isn't just another mission, It's

vital for ending what some have termed Europe's launcher crisis, a period marked by

the delays and challenges that stymied independent access to space. But what makes Ariani

six such a significant milestone for the continent. First and foremost, Ariani six

represents Europe's best answer to the fast evolving dynamics of the current aerospace industry.

With a planned flight rate of ten to twelve launches per year, Ariani six

aims to serve both government and commercial clients efficiently. Its versatile design allows for

two main configurations, A six two, which is more suited for smaller payloads,

and Ariani sixty four, configured for heavier missions. This adaptability ensures it

can cater to a wide range of payload requirements, making it a robust choice

for varied missions. One major boost is the strong interest from commercial players.

Ariani six has already secured an impressive lineup of thirty orders, including eighteen launches

for Amazon's Project Kuyper satellite constellation. A full order book before the rocket has

even flown, speaks volumes about the trust placed in this new launch vehicle.

However, the celebration is tempered by the reality of the fierce competition Ariani six

faces. SpaceX has revolutionized the industry with its reusable Falcon nine rockets, which

can be used multiple times, significantly reducing costs. Notably, SpaceX's Starship,

which is still in development, proposes to deliver massive payloads at rock bottom prices

per kilogram. Such advancements pose a looming threat to traditional expendable rockets like the

Ariani six. Another challenge is staying operationally independent while balancing collaborations. The European

Space Agency and Ariani Group must ensure that Ariani six delivers on its promises of

cost, efficiency and reliability. To remain competitive, they have built partnerships with

various stakeholders to diversify Ariani six's capabilities, addressing multiple market segments from heavy lift

to medium payloads. One aspect working in Ariani six's favor is its capabilities tailored

for geotransfer orbits and high energy missions necessary for tasks such as launching navigation satellites

and interplanetary missions. Here, the rocket's sophisticated design with its enhanced upper stage

featuring Vinci engines, provides the required thrust and precision. While critics argue that

Ariani six might become obsolete in the face of upcoming reusable rockets, it's clear

that Europe has positioned Ariani six as a crucial player in the space launch market.

Balancing between cutting edge innovations and law long standing reliability, Ariani six aims

to secure Europe's footing in the increasingly competitive domain of space launches. So as

we watch the Ariani six prepare for its first flight, the rocket symbolizes much

more than a technological achievement. It represents Europe's resilience and ambition to claim its

spot as a global space power. As it lifts off, it carries with

it the hopes of meeting new space frontiers and overcoming the rigorous demands of a

rapidly changing aerospace landscape. The subru telescope has made yet another significant discovery by

identifying new objects beyond the previously known boundaries of the Kuiper Belt. This region,

lying beyond Neptune is a fascinating part of our Solar system, filled with

icy bodies and small celestial objects. The Subaru Telescope's expanded view into this remote

area has the potential to transform our understanding of the outer Solar system. The

Kuiper Belt traditionally is thought to end abruptly around fifty atomical units AU from the

Sun, setting a distinct boundary for this region. However, recent findings from

the Subaru telescope suggest that there may be more beyond this limit. Using the

hypersuprimecam, a powerful observational tool, researchers have been able to identify objects that

hint at a possible extension of the Kuiper Belt. One of the major contributors

to this discovery, doctor Fumi Yoshida and his team utilized an innovative method that

layered consecutive images to detect the movement of distant objects. This analysis has led

to the identification of seven new celestial bodies. Two of these have already had

their orbits preliminarily determined, receiving provisional designation from the Minor Planet Center. The

implications of this discovery are immense. If these new objects truly reside beyond the

fifty AU boundary, it could indicate that our Solar System's primordial nebula extended much

further than we previously believed. This would not only reshape our understanding of the

Kuiper Belt, but also offer fresh insights into the formation and evolution of our

Solar system. Moreover, the collaboration between the Subaru Telescope and NASA's New Horizons

mission continues to yield impressive results. The New Horizons mission, which famously flew

by Pluto in twenty fifteen and another Kuiper Belt object, Aricoth in twenty nineteen,

relies heavily on such contributions to navigate and study these distant regions. In

summary, these new findings from the Subaru Telescope are not just about adding more

objects to a catalog. They're about unveiling the dynamic history and ongoing processes that

govern our cosmic neighborhood. As researchers continue to analyze the data and spot more

distant objects, our map of the Solar System grows more detailed. And intriguing.

This is just the beginning of what promises to be a deeper exploration into

one of the most mysterious regions in our celestial backyard. That's all for today's

episode. Thanks thanks for joining me on this cosmic journey. Don't forget to

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